A/N:
PLEASE READ!
I've heard a lot of opinions about the last few chapters and crossovers. Well I've got to tell you all. THIS IS NOT A CROSSOVER STORY! Yes there will be cameo's of other toons like Dani and a few other randoms, but it's just in passing and has very little if nothing to do with the actual plot. In fact I'm just using them to prove the point that it's not just Animaniacs cast who were animated. There's others too. So don't worry, there won't be any hero gang vs toon villain gang or anything like that. I promise. So I'm sorry if people are unnerved or disappointed, that's fine, everyone is allowed their own opinions and I'm actually greatful that you're honest with me XD But this is just to reassure you, all cameo toons will just be to prove my point of the variety involved in this (and that someone's been very busy in the Waiting Room) not just Animanaics cast. Again I'm sorry for the confusion, and thanks foe being honest with me. I hope you'll still read and review, and I hope this clears things up, lol XD
*Yakko's POV*
Yikes, the idea that someone was using the Waiting Room again was more disturbing than Junior. Do not watch kids, lunches will be lost and brain cells will need funerals. But I'm getting off track here. Kiddo made a valid point. Things just took a twist that's for sure, for the bad or… interesting, that's what I want to find out. Yeah why not, lets take another snoop around the studio. Lets face it it's become a habit over the years and you never know what you're going to find. It could be something of another cover-up to a left-over sandwich. Place your bets ladies and gents!
But new toons on the lot? What is someone trying to take our spotlight or something? Well how'dya like that, is that what we get for all we've done for the place? Working up damage bills and therapy for all our friends was no easy task I'll have you know. We've got a rep to protect here. But, okay I'll admit, if they were anything like us then they couldn't be all bad. And good for Little Red, it's about time she started proving people wrong. Hey, looks like we're rubbing off on her. Well she's got great taste in role-models I'll give her that; and apparently she's also got her sibs knack for picking up conspiracies. But if this one's going somewhere, me and the sibs had better start following.
But of course kiddo was playing moral-support and giving pep-talk of the year… "Just be careful."
"Oh please, what do you take us for, amateurs?" Dot scoffed.
"Yeah, because I'd make that mistake and tempt you more." She rolled her eyes, "But I'm serious. I'm not going to stop your fun, but promise me one thing. Stay away from the Waiting Room. That means you don't go in, you don't send someone else in for you, you just stay away from there."
"Alright, sheesh, you have our word kiddo that we won't -"
"That also means you don't go as a group, in pairs, individually, without anyone noticing, or -"
Hey look, she's learning from the past and watching wordplay! I'm gonna have to up my game, "I'm kidding."
"You'd better be." She warned, giving me a nudge.
Obviously the trust was still going strong… Jeez you make one mistake around here! I nudged her back, "We'll be back before you know it."
"Just what are we looking for again?" Wakko asked as we ducked around another corridor. No security and the cameras were all set in certain directions, kind of like Harry Styles hair, so it was pretty easy to sneak along undetected.
"Yeah, at least last time we had some clue." Sis noted as we got closer to the CEO's office. Jeez this route was more repetitive than Robin Williams comedy. Been there, done that, and got the info. Well, we will anyway.
"Uuuuuhhhhh…" Yeah she had a point. Last time at least we knew to look for stuff with kiddo's name on it on some forms or files or-Oh I get it! "Well it's broad daylight, clearly we're changing our tactics here. Maybe they are too?"
"Huh?"
Dot folded her arms, "English?"
Wasn't I already speaking it? "We've changed from shadowed ninja's to daylight infiltration; maybe they've changed from secret boxes and draws to good old hidden in plain sight?"
"Wouldn't that seem a little convenient?"
"But, sis, would you be complaining?" I answered for her, "Nope, didn't think so. Wakko?"
He shook his head with a tongued grin. Good, we were agreeing on something for once. Sure it was over something unlikely, but that's become our middle name. But that's another story. Right now we were peeking around the edge of the doorway. Ah, a lot of memories in this room. Good old Plotzie gave up a lot to work with in here. Kind of ironic if you think about it. Hmm, wonder how old T.P's doing on retirement, it's been a while, maybe me and the sibs should drop in sometime. I'm sure he'd be so happy to see us…
Speaking of which, was Jar-Head going to be happy to see us? Well with any luck he wouldn't. This was just a quick job. Find out anything on toons other than yours truly, see just how the heck it happened and then get out. No Waiting Room, as promised. Simple job, kind of like the Kristen Stewart cardboard cut out. Hey we should charge for this! We'd make a fortune! So all in all this is good practice. Now if my hunch was right, and when isn't it… don't answer it was rhetorical! Where was I? Oh right, if my hunch was right, then these new toons were hot off the press. So there's bound to be something out in the open to take a peek at. What? I can be logical from time to time, it just doesn't come in handy around these parts often.
We strolled in and took a look around at the empty office and glanced at each other, silently taking up our positions. Wakko on the cabinets, Dot playing lookout at the door and me taking charge of the desk. Jeez, Jar-Head was not an organised person that's for sure. These draws were more cluttered than Robert De Niro's award case. Papers, papers and… ten bucks says you can't guess what else. Files. Ha, got ya there, hand it over fellas, ladies half price. But look at this stuff, some was bills which had been half paid here and there, contracts for movie ideas and the usual stuff that we didn't care about but loved to mess with. But nothing about the Waiting Room or other toons. So Jar-Head wasn't a total shmuck to leave this stuff in the open. And by the looks of it, Wakko wasn't having much luck in that cabinet either.
Dot darted into the room, whistling desperately. I arched an eyebrow, "I appreciate the compliment sis but that's a little weird don't you think?"
Ah there's the look he run in fear from, "I'm giving a look-out signal!"
"We didn't make one." Wakko pointed out.
"Which is why I made one."
"Then thanks for the update." I nodded.
"Hello? I'm using the look-out signal because -"
"Oh, hi. What're you three doing here?"
Ah, that's why she was giving the signal. Behind her, Jar-Head had stepped into the room and was smiling at us like we were best buddies or something. Dot looked up at him and huffed, "Why do I even bother?"
"Was my entrance a little off?" he asked.
I rolled my eyes, "No entrance would have helped."
"It's my office, remember." What's with the smile?
We're invading his office, plainly enough, and yet he's acting like it was expected. Just can't get a good reaction from this guy! "Okay, Jar-Head, lets cut to the chase." Before the 'champ' knew it he was shoved into his char, lighted aimed over him and the three of us in detective mode, trench coats included. You expected anything less? Again, ladies get half price on your services, I'm sure we can come to another arrangement, grrraow!
"Am I under interrogation or something?" he asked, a little amused but it was clearly a cover up for some unease. He knew we had kiddo as our lead, if she suspected something then it was only a matter of time before the cleaners came in.
Hey get me, I'm getting the lingo. Dot folded her arms, "We'll ask the questions here, sonny."
With a slight raise of hands in defence, Jar-Head let us continue. Seriously, he was okay with this? I sat on the edge of the desk and arched an eyebrow, "We know."
"Know what?"
"A lot." Wakko answered, "About stuff."
"What stuff?"
"That's two questions you've asked now." Dot pointed out, "Three strikes and we're out."
Bro-sibling looked at her, "Don't you mean you're out."
"Well yeah but, it's his office." She shrugged.
We're getting a little off topic here. "As I was saying, we know. So you might as well admit it."
"Admitting to something without knowing what it is won't really help." He urged, somehow making it sound like a question without actually asking one.
"True, but it'll get this over with sooner. So, what've you been up to around here, Jar-Head, any extra work outside the office? Say, in other parts of the studio?" And lean in a little for affect, "In a closed off part of the studio perhaps?"
Was that a flicker if doubt I see? "Not exactly."
"A bit vague." Wakko noted, "Hiding something?"
"No."
"I think you are…" Dot sand, holding the lamp a little closer to his face.
"Like I said, Jar-Head," I shrugged, "We know."
He cleared his throat and shifted a little, "I'm guessing this is the part where I confess everything I've ever done and while you sit and wait for something of use."
"That would help." Dot nodded.
"But it would help more if you just get to the confession we're thinking of." I added.
"But I don't know what you want me to conf-"
"Oh this is going on forever!" Dot moaned, "Who's been using the Animator and why?"
Face-palm moment if there ever was one. But on the up-hand, it definitely got him looking worried. That's it perp, think up an alibi, it'll just make it funnier to look back on when the truth finally comes out. Which shouldn't be long, it didn't take a look through a magnifying glass to see that; didn't stop me trying it out though. Yikes this guy needs some cleanser asap, and some blush, he's turning a little pale here.
"No one's been in the Waiting Room for a while." He stated.
"And how long is a while?" Wakko asked.
"Just what don't you want us to know?" Dot added devilishly.
He sighed and looked at her earnestly. Still no reaction to work with, this guy was good. "Hey, it's not that at all. I've just got some stuff to sort out before I can fill you in, okay?"
"Like why there are other toons on the lot?" I pressured.
"How did -?"
"Lets not make this question number three." Dot scowled smugly, "Never mind how we know. But how and why is what we want to know."
"We would find out ourselves but lets face it," I commented, nudging one of the many piles of paper on the desk, "It'd be like finding Madonna in a mannequin factory. So why exactly have you got to wait?"
At that, he lowered his eyes a little, "You've seen what happens when toons go under contract, and how it's the same for half-toons…"
Wakko nodded, "Yeah but what has… oh…"
Yeah I've seen, and been. And after watching kiddo, I guess it made sense why we was clamming up. That's the deal with toons and contracts, pen-to-paper was binding around these parts. Living proof right here folks! Hmm, so if he wasn't, or couldn't tell us straight, then there were ways to work around it. Done it once, I can do it again. Well I would have if Jar-Head hadn't beaten me to it.
"So you know I can't say anything. And you can tell Talia that too." He smirked knowingly. Hehe, busted. "Can you guys trust me enough that as soon as I can, I'll tell you. If it makes you feel better I'll sign a contract or -"
"Not needed, Jar-Head." I cut him off, it's not a matter of trust, there's just been enough silencing around here without us adding to it. And what if we do say sure go ahead, we'll wait, then if he can't ever tell us, then we're waiting for nothing. Bit boring if you ask me. "How about some hints instead."
We were still in detective gear, why waste it? He sighed, "I really don't know what I can tell you. Uh… The toon lot is bigger than you think."
"Helpful…" we noted sarcastically.
"Well looks like this well's run dry." Dot huffed, already leaving the room. Jar-Head looked apologetically at us as we followed suit.
"This ain't over, Jar-Head." I warned, but considering the contract deal I put a smirk at the end for good measure.
"What now?" Wakko asked once we were outside.
Good question. So looks like it's a proud day for the gals of the group. Imaginary friends come to life and paranoia turns into a reasonable hunch. I guess it's back to the drawing board. If we had one in the first place. The toon lot is bigger than we think? Are playing Sherlock now? Time to think I suppose. And what better way to clear the mind than…
"Catch me of you can handsome!"
"Run now, flirt later." I adviced, grabbing Dot's tail and dragging her behind us until she had the sense to run on her own.
It had been a while since us three had caused a good security chase. Sure they were few and far between considering we were only allowed to go up to the guards that already knew about us. Which weren't very many in truth, but enough for one each to mess with. Ah, but it seemed these ones had been trained just a little more for the, ahem, occasion. They were definitely faster. But it was too much fun to speed it out of there, might as well let them think they're winning for a little while longer.
Come to think of it, a little while longer and they might just have us. I flashed a grin over my shoulder and ducked just as a hand swooped down over me. Just for a laugh I blew a kiss and caught up with the sibs. Wakko had his tongue waving in the breeze, running backwards every now again to pull a gookie. What can I say, kids got style. But I didn't like how close these guys were getting. We skidded around a corner. Jeez if we don't make like Wayne Rooney's brain cells and scarper soon then we'd be as caught. Granted they couldn't do anything to us, but I didn't fancy being sent to report to Jar-Head after the exchange we'd just had. One riddle at a time thanks.
Suddenly, an arm shot out from one of the ally ways between two of the studio buildings and hooked around me and the sibs, knocking the air out of us and hoisting us into the shadows. We were forced against the wall and none too softly at that. Easy on the everywhere there pal. I was about to tell them so when their hand clamped over my mouth to stop me. In the open, the set of guards rushed past, stupid enough to ignore the gloom with plenty of hiding places. Talk about your classic. As soon as their footsteps had faded, we were released.
"Can't you stay out of trouble for ten minutes?"
Hey I'd know that tired yet slightly joking tone of sarcasm anywhere, "Can we help it if we're in such high demand?" I smirked, rubbing my mouth slightly, "Nice work on the grab-by, kiddo."
"Well I figured it was about time I got the hang of it." She shrugged, "I'm guessing you found something out for get a chase like that; or did Jack finally snap?"
"You kidding, trying to get a real reaction outta that guy is like poking a dead fish."
"You'd think it'd be funny." Wakko added.
"But it really isn't…" Dot folded her arms and huffed, "Boys."
Kiddo seemed to agree, with both sides of the argument it seemed. Yet she looked distracted, was there a Lautner cameo or something? "But you found something?"
"Yes and no." Dot admitted, "There's something… but we didn't get a straight answer. It was like he was playing Layton games before bed again."
"Riddles basically." Wakko clarified.
"It's Jack, of course he's going to be cryptic." Kiddo shrugged, "But, uh, can you tell me on the way, I'm in a hurry."
"Where to?" Wakko asked for us.
"Slappy's. Poppy's already there with the others." She explained, looking anxious, "Flynn hasn't come home yet and according to Poppy, he never showed up."
"Ah Slugger's like change in the sofa, he'll turn up eventually." I waved my hand passively, it was true wasn't it?
"But the Youth Centre closed two hours ago and he hasn't called. Come on, you know what he's like, and this isn't it."
He'd be a hypocrite if he was, I figured, "What I say, kiddo, never a dull moment with us around!"
A/N:
Please read the note at the beginning, just a reminder.
So, what's going on? Where's Flynn? And what does Jack mean and just what can't he tell them? Read on to find out folks. And I hope you liked the extra dose of Warner's XD
